Scammers Use Cell Text Messaging to Install Malware

Its a tricky double-whammy attack that caught the attention of the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Scammers send a text message to a random cell phone number telling a person that their new online dating profile has now been setup, and their telephone will be charged 2 dollars per month. If you want to avoid paying this fee, you need to go to a website and unsubscribe.

The catch? Yep, the online site will install malware and backdoor your computer system. What also makes this odd is that the site is still up and online as of this post, and it is registered to a man that supposedly lives in New Jersey. Such scammer and phishing sites are usually taken offline pretty quickly by cooperative security teams. I think this was registered to not only steal access to computer systems, but also run a “Joe Job” against the site’s registrant.

Thanks to the WaPo’s Carolyn Mayer for the heads up on this story.

Bottom line is, take up reported billing issues with your cell phone company first before visiting the websites.